Sermons on Pretty:

Eating Humble Pie Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Aug 8, 2016

Job realizes that he is only mortal and human.

Job 42:7-17 “Eating Humble Pie” INTRODUCTION The ending of Job reads like it was written by an American screenwriter. American plays and movies almost always have to have a happy ending. For forty-one chapters we have walked with Job through his suffering. The storyteller has ...read more

Scripture: Job 42:7-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Fullness And Limitation, Time And Space Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 18, 2017

we must focus on the efforts we need to make to improve our imaging of Jesus and Mary.

Thursday of Seventh Week in Course Joy of the Gospel We continue in the season which the Extraordinary Form calendar still calls Septuagesima, or the seventy days before Easter. The penitential season of Lent begins on March 1, and we must focus on the efforts we need to make to improve our ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:41-50

Denomination: Catholic

We Are All Invited Series

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Aug 16, 2017

Parable of the Wedding Feast; we are all invited to God's banquet

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, 'Tell those who have ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14, Isaiah 6:10

Denomination: Episcopal

Two Sons

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Aug 17, 2017

Now, if you were in the shoes of these parents, which of the babysitters will you hire the next time?

26A There were two sisters who worked as babysitters in their community. A young couple had recently moved into the neighborhood. They hired the younger of the two sisters to babysit their children. Imagine their surprise when they returned to find their home a complete mess, with their kids ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:28-32, Ezekiel 18:25-28

Denomination: Catholic

The Lordship Of Christ In Every Century Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 26, 2017

“the absence of the Holy Spirit in the Church creates all the divisions.”

Thursday of the 21st Week in Course 2017 Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonika is likely the earliest letter we have from him. He and his band of missionaries are on his second missionary journey, one that took him to western Anatolia and Greece. The church in Thessalonika was his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13

Denomination: Catholic

How Much More Will God Give His Holy Spirit Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 7, 2017

If there is evil in our lives, God has to permit it to happen, or it wouldn’t. But God never wills evil. He only wants our good.

Thursday of 27th Week in Course 2017 Reformation/Revolution Who among us has not looked on some captain of industry or some venal politician and wondered why “evildoers not only prosper but when they put God to the test they escape.’” as the people did in Malachi’s day? Sometimes it does seem vain ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:5-13

Denomination: Catholic

Church Leaders Series

Contributed by Paul Clemente on May 26, 2014

What qualities should church leaders have?

Several weeks ago we started our study of the Letter to Titus. We noted at the beginning of the letter that all Christians are to pursue godliness. A couple of weeks ago we celebrated Mother’s Day by going to Titus Chapter 2 to note specific instructions for women. Last week we looked at ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:6-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How To Bear More Fruit Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 12, 2014

A look at John 15 on Jesus' words about the two steps toward bearing "much fruit."

THE PATH TO BEARING MORE FRUIT: 1. God wants us to be fruitful. - John 15:2, 4, 5, 8. - It¡¦s abundantly clear from this passage that God wants us to be fruitful. Let¡¦s take that a step further: He also expects us to be fruitful. - Being fruitful is a defining characteristic of the true ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Price Of Faith Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 20, 2014

There is a price to be paid for the gift of faith, at least inconvenience.

Thursday of Easter Week 2014 Lumen Fidei Today from the Acts of the Apostles we hear a snippet of the earliest kerygma of the apostles. It’s pretty stout. Peter is preaching to people who have just seen him heal–by the power of Jesus the Messiah–a man who could not walk. And ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:11-26

Denomination: Catholic

Neither Positivism Nor Scientism Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 5, 2016

There must be a dialogue between science and faith, but it must also be an unequal dialogue; faith trumps the claims of any science that denies God.

Thursday of Fourth Week in Lent 2016 Joy of the Gospel In this fourth week of Lent, the week of Laetare Sunday–Joy Sunday– it is quite appropriate to continue our series on Pope Francis’s encyclical, the Joy of the Gospel. Let’s be clear that joy and enjoyment are not ...read more

Scripture: John 5:31-47

Denomination: Catholic

The Witness Of Guadalupe

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 7, 2013

We can learn much about Truth, Faith and evangelism from the experience of Tepayac and the conversion of the Americas.

Our Lady of Guadalupe 2013 Lumen Fidei The great scene in Revelation, of the ark of the covenant, the dwelling place of the Holy Name, being revealed, is clearly a tableau of the Virgin Mother, Mary, the new Eve, bringing forth the child Jesus for our salvation. Steve Ray rightly folds ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Faith And Love

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 14, 2013

Like Zechariah and Elizabeth, we must learn the interaction between faith and love in the head and heart

Thursday of 3rd Week in Advent 2013 Lumen Fidei The story we have in the first chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel is a kind of midrash on the story we read today in the Book of Judges. In both cases a childless couple experiences a miraculous intervention of God to give them a child. But the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25

Denomination: Catholic

Refresh (1) Loved Series

Contributed by Michael Monica on Jul 15, 2017

Do you know that you are loved?

The Bible is the story of God really. The Bible is a book, written by at least 40 known authors spanning the time of about 1500 years. It includes creation (where we came from), the fall of man, the aftermath of our sinning against God, famines, wars, tragedy, humor, peace, deliverance, romance ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Woes To Unfaithful Church Leaders

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 14, 2018

Jesus’ stern warning to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:13-39 is also important for church leaders today. A Year D sermon.

It is such a privilege to be a church leader, especially in kind and loving churches. It is a grave responsibility to feed God’s sheep and guide people that we are privileged to call our friends, on their journey to eternity. Overseers of churches are far from perfect, but some mistakes are worse ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:13-39

Denomination: Baptist

Cared For Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Jun 26, 2017

The Lord is our Shepherd who provides for us and protects us.

Psalm 23:1-6 “Cared For” INTRODUCTION Flocks of sheep were abundant in the countryside of Israel; they were an everyday encounter. People had seen sheep in action and they knew that sheep were somewhat helpless against predators and a little on the stubborn side. People were also well aware ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Denomination: Lutheran